in unawares” (chap. 2:1; Jude 4), is very peculiar in its contents; and its agreement with the epistle of Jude is of such a character as leads to the inference that the two writings are somehow connected with each other.  It has been supposed that both writers drew from a common source unknown to us.  More probable is the opinion that one of them had in view the words of the other.  A comparison of the two writings will perhaps lead to the belief that Jude’s was the original, though on this point biblical scholars differ.  It matters not to us whether, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Peter employed, in a free and independent way, the words of Jude, or Jude those of Peter.  Upon either supposition his writing is as much inspired as if he had written independently.  The most prominent idea of Peter’s first epistle is patience and steadfastness in the endurance of suffering for Christ’s sake; that of this second epistle is caution against the seductions of false teachers.  Thus each epistle fills an important place in the entire economy of revelation.

III.  EPISTLES OF JOHN.

14.  THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN bears throughout the impress of its authorship.  That it was written by the same man who wrote the fourth gospel is too evident to be reasonably controverted.  On this ground alone its genuineness and authenticity may be regarded as established on a firm basis.  But the external testimonies to its authorship are also abundant from Polycarp, the disciple of the apostle, and onward.  It is unnecessary to enumerate them.  In respect to the date of this epistle we have no certain knowledge.  The common opinion is that it was written after the gospel, and towards the close of the first century.  With this supposition the contents agree.  It contains the affectionate counsel of an aged apostle to his younger brethren, whom he addresses as his “little children.”  He writes, moreover, in “the last time,” when, according to the prediction of our Lord and his apostles, many antichrists and false prophets are abroad in the world (chaps. 2:18; 4:1-3), and there are some who deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh (chap. 4:2, 3).  As to the place of the apostle’s writing, if we follow ancient tradition, which makes Ephesus his home in his old age, we may well believe that he wrote from that city, and that the epistle was addressed primarily to the circle of churches which had Ephesus for a centre.

Some of the ancients refer to the present epistle as written to the Parthians.  But this is a very improbable assumption, and rests apparently on some mistake.  The apostle evidently writes to those who are under his spiritual care; and these are not the Parthians, but the Christians of Asia, to whom also the seven letters of the Apocalypse are addressed.

15.  The epistle has unity throughout, but not the unity of systematic logical arrangement.